By: Lamin B. Darboe
Information Officer, MoPS
The President of The Gambia, His Excellency, President AdamaBarrow has acknowledged the Ministry of Public Service’s effort and suggested to the Ministry to set up a monitoring team to complement the technology being introduced to ensure that ministries and civil servants are more productive in their work.
President Barrow was speaking, on Wednesday, August 21 2024 at State House in Banjul where the Ministry updated the Presidency on the progress in the implementation of the Civil Service Reforms Agenda during the quarterly Delivery Forum.
The team was led to the Presidency by the Minister of Public Service, Honorable Baboucarr Bouy.
The Gambian leader hailed the Minister and his team for their tremendous achievement, adding that the idea to establish the Ministry was indeed fully justified by work done in such a short period.
President Barrow’s administration desire to restore Public Service core values and create behavioral change within civil service led to the decision to establish the Ministry of Public Service to provide effective oversight and coordination of the civil service.
According to Minister Baboucarr Bouy, reforms are meant to improve service delivery and welfare of civil servants, adding that, what matters to his ministry is the quality of service civil servants are delivering.
Minister reported that with support from the World Bank, is spearheading a Public Administration Modernization Project (PAMP), which aims to improve fiscal and human resource management capacity for improved service delivery.
The project he went on, will contribute to: strengthen the management of public revenue expenditures and audit reports of government to improve accountability and decision-making, strengthening public administration, and improve transparency and citizen engagement for efficient service delivery.
Director, Civil Service Reforms and Planning Unit under the Ministry of Public Service, Mr. Sheriff Jallow reported that the Ministry has completed work on pay reform, pay and grading review, pension reform, strengthened the loan scheme among others in order to successfully attract, retain and motivate technical and professional personnel into the civil service.
“The new Public Service Pension Act, 2022 allowed for the establishment of the Pensions Directorate leading to a more efficient and effective pension’s management and administration system. Similarly, other key reforms include initiatives to enhance discipline, ethical conduct, and performance of civil service,” Mr. Jallow informed the presidency.
He further reported that electronic clock-in devices have been installed in 20 Ministries and further 100 procured to be installed in MDAs in the coming weeks. This he continued, will help instill discipline to promote good governance, transparency, and accountability among civil servants and improve time management in the service.
Mr. Jallow also reported that the Ministry is currently developing and reviewing a wide range of policies in a bid to re-institutionalize meritocracy, due process, and professionalism in personnel administration.
Furthermore, he indicated that the Ministry is currently reviewing the Public Service Act 1991, and the General Orders, among others.